Google search to be the default for Opera's mobile browsers
If you're one of the millions of people with an Opera Mobile or Opera Mini browser on your phone, you may be pleased to know that Google will soon be the default search engine on the browser start page. We're certainly excited about it -- it will now be even easier for Opera's new and current mobile users to get the information they need, whenever and wherever they need it.
For more details about our new collaboration with Opera, please check out their press release. To learn more about Opera or to download one of their mobile browsers, head here. As always, you can read more about Google mobile products on our website.
Got a Nokia smartphone? Search Google faster than ever
At Google we like things that are fast: fast search, fast email, fast everything. In fact, we're so in love with speed that we don't even like the time it usually takes to launch a browser, head to Google and perform a search on our favourite Nokia smartphones. So, we decided to do something to speed it up.
From today, if you have an N-series or an E-series Nokia phone you can download a small search shortcut directly to your phone's homescreen. Once that shortcut is in place, you'll be able to bring up a Google search box (without opening your browser), type in a query and get straight to the results.
For those who are counting, that means fewer clicks and less time waiting for pages to load. Judging from our research, there is as much as a 40 percent reduction in the average time to complete an initial search. You can see just how much faster it is in this video:
So, don't take our word for it -- head to mobile.google.com on your Nokia device now, download the Google search shortcut and give it a try.
Android SDK m5-rc14 now available
On behalf of the entire Android team, I'm happy to let you know that an updated version of the Android SDK – we're calling it m5-rc14 – is now available. Today, we're continuing the early look at the Android SDK that we started back in November by providing updates to the Android APIs and the developer tools based, in part, on the great feedback and suggestions developers have been giving us. We're excited about the progress that we've made and look forward to making additional updates in the future as the platform evolves towards production-readiness.
There are a couple of changes in m5-rc14 I'd like to highlight:
- New user interface - As I mentioned when we introduced the m3 version of the Android SDK, we're continuing to refine the UI that's available for Android. m5-rc14 replaces the previous placeholder with a new UI, but as before, work on it is still in-progress.
- Layout animations - Developers can now create layout animations for their applications using the capabilities introduced in the android.view.animation package. Check out the LayoutAnimation*.java files in the APIDemos sample code for examples of how this works.
- Geo-coding - android.location.Geocoder enables developers to forward and reverse geo-code (i.e. translate an address into a coordinate and vice-versa), and also search for businesses.
- New media codecs - The MediaPlayer class has added support for the OGG Vorbis, MIDI, XMF, iMelody, RTTL/RTX, and OTA audio file formats.
- Updated Eclipse plug-in - A new version of ADT is available and provides improvements to the Android developer experience. In particular, check out the new Android Manifest editor.
You can find more information about what's changed in a couple of documents that we've published. First is an overview of the changes to the Android APIs in API Changes Overview. If you want a more granular view of what's changed, an API diff between m3-rc37 and m5-rc14 is also available. Finally, Upgrading the SDK provides links to the two previously referenced documents and the release notes, as well as instructions on how to upgrade your development environment.
We still need your help in shaping the platform, so if you find issues with the Android APIs or the developer tools, please let us know through the Android Issue Tracker. If you have general comments or questions, please head on over to the Android groups to get in touch.
We're looking forward to all the applications that developers will create using this new version of the Android SDK. Of course, you can use m5-rc14 or any older version of the SDK for your Android Developers Challenge submission.
Mobile World Congress 2008: Google and Nokia Team Up on Search
The days when mobile phones were just for making and taking calls are far behind us as more and more of us are using these sleek little bundles of silicon and plastic as a key access point for information. That's why we are always working to bring our fast and comprehensive mobile search experience to as many different mobile devices as possible.
With that in mind, we announced today at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that we're going to be working with Nokia to provide access to Google search on Nokia devices via Nokia Search. (Nokia Search is an application that combines web search services like Google with the ability to search for applications and files on your device.)
Beginning with the Nokia N96 and N78, 6210 Navigator, and 6220 classic, Google search will be available on Nokia devices in more than 100 countries, serving mobile users in 42 different languages. The collaboration will expand over time to include access to Google search on many more Nokia handsets. Here's more about how we'll be working with Nokia.
Looking on the bright side: Google mobile and Brightpoint
Pretty soon you'll be able to find Google search and Google Maps for mobile pre-installed on more smartphones around the world, making it easier for some of you to start using these applications immediately after purchase. There are various ways that Google mobile applications can be installed on phones before they land in your hands. Usually, this convenient service is brought to you through collaboration with our partners in the wireless industry.
Today we announced an agreement with Brightpoint to pre-install Google Search and Google Maps for mobile on a wide range of smartphones, including those running Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Palm, and Symbian. These applications will be distributed through Brightpoint’s 25,000 B2B customers around the world. To give you a little background, Brightpoint is a leading provider of cell phone distribution and customized logistical services for the wireless industry. For example, Brightpoint can take phones from a device manufacturer, configure them for a network, and then package them and efficiently deliver them to the retail stores where they can be sold.
Read more about the agreement with Brightpoint in today's press release.
Android in Harvard Square
As promised, there's another Android event coming up – though a little closer to home this time. Our Android Advocates are heading to Boston for a Code Day that will be taking place on February 23. Registration is now open, but space is limited so make sure you reserve your spot.
Here are the details:
| Date: | Saturday, February 23, 2008 |
| Time: | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm |
| Location: | The Charles Hotel Harvard Square 1 Bennett St Cambridge, MA 02138 |
As a reminder, a Code Day is an immersive introduction and hands-on session for Android.
It's promising to be a real Android nor'easter. We hope to see you there!
Alexandra's Mobile [Ad]itude: A new series about Google mobile ads
, Product Marketing Manager, Mobile Ads
You may have heard a lot of talk about mobile advertising, but it might still be hard to make sense of this rapidly growing and constantly changing market. To help us all understand this industry, its trends, and Google's part in the market, I wanted to start this column -- and hopefully a dialogue -- about mobile ads.
First, let's define what exactly mobile advertising is. In its simplest form, mobile advertising may be an SMS or an MMS sent to your phone. On phones with data plans, mobile advertising is more likely to be text or display ads on the mobile web's search and content pages. On more sophisticated devices, you may also see broadcast TV or video advertising.
The mobile ad market, however, faces a number of challenges. While industry leaders like Japan have the technology and scale for mobile ads to thrive, other markets face a chicken-and-egg phenomenon in the development of the mobile web. Some potential mobile website owners aren't sure how much they will be able to monetize a mobile website, or whether WAP will soon be replaced by HTML. And since the mobile web remains smaller than the regular web, mobile advertisers may not feel they have enough places to put their ads -- or enough viewers to see them.
The times are changing, though. The combined impact of mobile advertising promises to be huge -- and is projected to reach some $4B by the end of 2008. By 2011, this number is expected to increase to $11.3B. There are a few key reasons this market holds a lot of potential. For one, there are nearly more cell phones in the world than televisions, telephones, and personal computers combined. Secondly, smartphones that offer unlimited data plans and easy mobile web browsing are becoming increasingly popular. Smartphones already account for a majority of data traffic and are gaining in sales. Finally, mobile ads are still cheaper than their online counterparts right now.
Like I said, I want this to be a dialogue. So leave me your comments and questions below or on our YouTube channel. I'll pick some of them to talk about in future posts. In the meantime, you can learn more about mobile ads or AdSense for mobile content or read related blogposts such as What's new with Google Mobile Ads and Meet mobile Publisher Mikle.
You may have heard a lot of talk about mobile advertising, but it might still be hard to make sense of this rapidly growing and constantly changing market. To help us all understand this industry, its trends, and Google's part in the market, I wanted to start this column -- and hopefully a dialogue -- about mobile ads.
First, let's define what exactly mobile advertising is. In its simplest form, mobile advertising may be an SMS or an MMS sent to your phone. On phones with data plans, mobile advertising is more likely to be text or display ads on the mobile web's search and content pages. On more sophisticated devices, you may also see broadcast TV or video advertising.
The mobile ad market, however, faces a number of challenges. While industry leaders like Japan have the technology and scale for mobile ads to thrive, other markets face a chicken-and-egg phenomenon in the development of the mobile web. Some potential mobile website owners aren't sure how much they will be able to monetize a mobile website, or whether WAP will soon be replaced by HTML. And since the mobile web remains smaller than the regular web, mobile advertisers may not feel they have enough places to put their ads -- or enough viewers to see them.
The times are changing, though. The combined impact of mobile advertising promises to be huge -- and is projected to reach some $4B by the end of 2008. By 2011, this number is expected to increase to $11.3B. There are a few key reasons this market holds a lot of potential. For one, there are nearly more cell phones in the world than televisions, telephones, and personal computers combined. Secondly, smartphones that offer unlimited data plans and easy mobile web browsing are becoming increasingly popular. Smartphones already account for a majority of data traffic and are gaining in sales. Finally, mobile ads are still cheaper than their online counterparts right now.
Like I said, I want this to be a dialogue. So leave me your comments and questions below or on our YouTube channel. I'll pick some of them to talk about in future posts. In the meantime, you can learn more about mobile ads or AdSense for mobile content or read related blogposts such as What's new with Google Mobile Ads and Meet mobile Publisher Mikle.
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